Islanders News: Pulock praise, Clutterbuck kudos, Beauvillier’s next deal

The Islanders had a rare off day and extra day between Monday’s win over the Blue Jackets and Thursday’s tilt with the Canadiens, who beat Detroit last night to stay in a points tie with Columbus for the final wild card spot in the East.

Islanders News

• Ryan Pulock has been good, and quite trusted by Barry Trotz, despite being inexplicably scratched for much of last year. Jonathan looked at a sequence from the win over Columbus to underline that point. [LHH]
• Also in that win, the Islanders believe they re-found their needed intensity, desperation. [Newsday]
• On breaking into the NHL, having to live in hotels first like Devon Toews now and Scott Mayfield once upon a time. Matt Martin: “When you’re living in a hotel, you’re like ‘god, I’d love to just have my own place. Then you get your own place and you have to pay bills, do laundry and wash your sheets.” #adulting, man. [Isles]
• What will Anthony Beauvillier’s second contract cost? [Athletic]
• Yeah, I mean, you may think being an AHLer is hard, but try being the locker room DJ too. [Sound Tigers]
• Bridgeport Report: after a high-mileage road trip. [Isles]
• The case for Cal Clutterbuck as unsung hero of the Islanders. [Athletic]
• Slipped in among talk of marijuana in the State of the County: Laura Curran voices her support for the Belmont arena plan. [Newsday]
• PUPPIES! Visiting Radar the pooch. [Isles]
• Last night’s results and their impact on the Isles playoff chase. [NYI Skinny]

Neither Islanders nor Elsewhere, Just Life, which Can be Beautiful Still

Please, please, please keep in mind those who struggle with mental health, and those of you who struggle with mental health, please, please, please reach out and know that there is hope out there for you. I know there is no simple solution and often people who don’t struggle cannot understand what you are going through, but just...hang in there and don’t give up. Reach out. Please.

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores include the Penguins over Washington (in regulation), bringing Pittsburgh to two points behind the Isles, and the Blue Jackets over Boston (in regulation), all of which influence the Metro and wild card race. (See Eric Hornick’s tweet and link above.)

• Carp Lad Calvin de Haan had a scary eye injury and is out indefinitely, but they are hopeful for a full recovery. [NHL]
• Yesterday (and the night before) there was much hurt as it appeared that Morgan Rielly had directed a homophobic slur at an official. A quick league investigation found that not to be the case, and the way the Leafs handled it (and absorbed the initial backlash) is promising. [TSN on YouTube | PPP] GM Kyle Dubas and Rielly met the media and made some emphatic statements on LGBTQ rights. [Sportsnet]
• Jon Cooper is an outstanding, relatable coach even if he quotes “Wedding Crashers” after every win. [Athletic]
• “Anything is possible” with the Flyers and Chuck Fletcher this summer, where expectations are high they’ll make a splash in free agency. [Dreger via Nichols on Hockey]
• The Senators sign Max Veronneau, the Ottawa-native undrafted college free agent out of Princeton. [Silver Seven]